Wednesday, January 27, 2010

BYOB Malbec Party (Washington Post Style)

WaPo's Dave McIntyre jumps on the malbec bandwagon:
"...Malbec from Argentina is arguably the best value in wine today. While other countries produce plenty of good-value wines, Argentina's malbecs offer unusual complexity at prices that don't break the bank. Even a $10 bottle can have you searching the glass for hints of mocha, berries, lavender or spice..."
And he describes a fun way to explore malbec... A BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) Party!
"... Recruit some friends for an evening of wine tasting and geeky discussion about aromas and nuances. Have each friend contribute a bottle or two of wine, to help spread the cost and the fun. Concealing the labels is optional; if you do, make sure the bottles are clearly numbered...
...With each wine, look first for malbec's signature: deep purple color, aromas and flavors of blueberries and cherries, and a soft texture with tannins that seem to disappear rather than dominate the finish. Then look for the nuances that come from different vineyard sites or the winemaker's decisions before, during and after harvest..."
And his list of recommendations is pretty spot on:

-Trapiche '08 (very easy to find)
-Alamos '08   (very easy to find)
-High Note '08
-Mapema '06
-Finca El Origen Reserva '07
-Valentín Bianchi "Elsa" '08 (very easy to find)

Link to the Washington Post story here.



Link to the recommended wines here.


Photo Courtesy of James M. Thresher for The Washington Post.
 

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